The Secret Power of Kindness

When I was in 5th grade at St. Michael’s School, I remember reading an Aesop fable about an argument between the Sun and the Wind about who had more power.

The Wind contended that its force was unrivaled, while the Sun felt differently. As they went back and forth in the skies above, a young man happened to be walking down a country road down below, wearing a heavy coat. The Wind proposed a challenge to see which was powerful enough to remove the coat from the traveler. (You can see where this is going.)

Indeed, the more the Wind blew, the more the fellow clutched his garment and when it was the Sun’s turn, the mere warmth of its rays caused the lad to take off the coat.

The moral that there is more strength in warmth than in force has stayed with me to this day.

It is a scientific fact that acts of kindness actually relieve stress. They would have to. How can you think about what worries you when you are caring about someone else? But, there is another dynamic taking place. I call it “The Secret Power of Kindness. ” It is caused by the chain of energy that is caused by your positive actions. Whether you realize it or not, this energy returns to reward you.

Think of every kind word or act as a seed you plant and forget. Then, one day you step out your back door to find a garden of gratitude. That’s the power of this wonderful gift that we can give so freely each day with such little effort.

I strongly believe that God places others in our path that can benefit from our unselfish compassion. Each represents an opportunity to use our secret super power. Your costume is optional.